Buffalo Nickel: Blackhawks Drop 5 On Sabres

Two Kanes scored in Buffalo on Sunday – one for each team – and all four lines scored for the Blackhawks as Chicago stormed to a strong road victory.

Ryan Hartman started the scoring for Chicago at 13:34 with a nasty snipe.

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks allowed another late period goal. After killing an extended 5-on-3, Evander Kane tied the game with five seconds left in the first period. Robin Lehner had a very good first period for Buffalo, stopping 16 of 17 shots to keep the Sabres in a game that saw the Hawks come out with a lot of jump.

Chicago kept their foot on the gas in the second, and Lehner wasn’t able to keep the pucks out.

Marian Hossa put on a puck control clinic in the second and was rewarded with his 21st of the season.

Richard Panik had a couple golden chances in the second, but couldn’t convert. But 15 minutes into the second, Chicago’s top line came through as Jonathan Toews extended the lead to 3-1.

When the dust settled after 40 minutes, Chicago was out-shooting Buffalo 29-20 and had a two-goal lead. Scott Darling was magnificent between the pipes, and the offense was buzzing.

Entering the third period, the only line that hadn’t scored for Chicago was their best offensive line. But Patrick Kane and company made sure that didn’t hold.

Kane, Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov connected for Anisimov’s 21st of the season less than four minutes into the third to make the score 4-1.

Three minutes later, the line clicked again. This time, it was Chicago’s Kane haunting his home town once again.

Kane’s goal is his 20th of the season, joining Anisimov and Hossa at 20 goals on the season. And Panarin’s assists on the two goals give him 34 on the year.

When Josh Gorges took a double-minor with just over four minutes left in regulation, the outcome was more than academic. Chicago happily took the advantage for four minutes and skated to a big road win against a Buffalo team that was playing well, only two points out of a playoff spot in the East.

Vinnie Hinostroza, recalled on Sunday morning, and Dennis Rasmussen were the only Blackhawks forwards without a point in the game. Marcus Kruger was the lowest ice time recipient in the game, skating only 10:18 as he continues to work his way back from injury.

Niklas Hjalmarsson led Chicago with five blocked shots and was rewarded with power play ice time late in the game. Richard Panik led the Hawks in shots on goal (five) and penalty minutes (four). Michal Kempny had four shots on net.

Toews (9 of 18), Anisimov (6 of 12), Tanner Kero (6 of 12) and Rasmussen (3 of 6) each won 50 percent of their faceoffs in the game.

Darling made 25 saves in the win. The Hawks penalty kill was perfect in four short-handed opportunities, with Darling making seven big saves on PK duty.

Good response after being a bit rusty and unlucky in loss to Oil. Hard to get too excited about a lot of the games over the full 82, but Tuesday night’s should be fun. It will be the biggest game ever for our rookies and they should feel good about themselves going into it. I care little about catching Minny–I just want to beat them (again) in their own house and let them stew on it.

Another solid effort all the way around. All good news – nothing to complain about. It looks like the week off may have put more life in the legs because the Hawks skated very well yesterday and today.

With the success that the Schmaltz-Toews-Panik line has had lately, I hope Stan still tries to upgrade with a top-6 winger.

Schmalz’s improvement since the beginning of the year is impressive. He is dangerous with the puck and has been very responsible defensively. I’m sure glad Panik’s whiff on a wide open net didn’t come back to bite us. On the positive side he’s earning himself some money with his recent play. Will we be able to re-sign him with our cap challenges?

Darling could be Chicago’s #1 allowing for a better managed salary cap!! Crawford still lets in some untimely soft ones (5-hole vs McDavid!!) and is useless handling the puck! If we aren’t going to shot block more then your goalie needs to be magnificent … defence needs strengthening and defensive zone breakout is still 50:50

Darling is a UFA after this year. Crawford has 3 years left on his contract. Darling should chase the money, he is 28 years old. The question is, should the Hawks take a chance and trade him for prospects and picks at deadline? Unless you think he is needed to make a Cup run……his value to the Hawks will never be better.

Darls has more value as a top notch ‘back up?’ (NAS) goalie for playoffs then 1 or 2 picks. Do you want to win or sell, pick one. Heard this draft is weak as well, donot know if true. No need to go out of out way to weaken the roster for playoffs. Darl can come back in a few yrs when the Crow is older.

Panik would need to get 20 goals yr after yr and tear it up in playoffs like Bicks did to get a higher caphit that would be to high to do. He (and every guy know) were tight now but will have more cap space for the coming yrs to get higher caphit/and be better player. First 1o games wernt a fluke but you cant count those goals until he does it again (in terms of 20 goal). I like Panik and he can keep on getting better, be the next Bicks. Then Hayden can be another Bicks. Two Bicks at the same time. The other teams donot like it when we hit them, these guys shut them up/or get them talking to themselves.

Only the idiot Wall could say that Panik scoring a lot is a bad thing!!!! LOL. I guess he’s butt hurt from the fac that Pank has proven him wrong since he along with a number of other clowns claimed that Panik was nothing special. LOL.

What the clowns and especially the head clown didn’t account for is that the hawks under Coach Q’s guidance and the core’s champion heart always get better as the season goes on. They have a way of getting ready for the playoffs. This is old hat to them. They started with a lot of different moving pieces and Coach Q had to find out where they fit and who was willing to play winning playoff hockey and not just look after their stats. So the clowns came out and called the hawks dead men walking and that they would be sellers at the trading deadline. LOL. Next time give Coach Q a chance to work his magic!

Pity they lost the Oil game Hawks played really well in, but got beat by a fantastic goalie performance. A shame not to get points, but the Hawks came out flying after the extended rest which for me was a positive sign of where the team is mentally and physically.

We must all be very pleased with what we are seeing from this Hawks team right now. They soundly beat the defensively challenged Sabres on the road, and didn’t ever take the foot off the gas. They just kept coming in waves because, well, the Sabres let them do it. We were able to watch the Anisimov line create some beautiful plays. Toews line is jelling and creating multiple scoring chances, and the Kero kid line is gaining confidence while playing an effective 2 way game. Hossa is the consummate team guy playing with lesser talented linemates, but helping to bind that line and make them effective. All praise to Hoss!

While I loved Shaw for what he brought to the Hawks, Hartman’s play has been an incredible revelation. He brings skill, grit, and tenacity along with a brain. Never mind a wicked shot with a lightning fast release. His impact has been a fantastic surprise that continues to trend higher. Sure has been fun to watch not only 38 develop, but the other kids as well. Makes this year kind of special for me as a fan.

I had planned to drive up for the Wild game tomorrow given the long weekend, but an unwelcome nasty cold blew that idea out of the water.

Hawks have come out of the gate strong in recent games. Lets hope they bring that tomorrow in what has the making of a great contest in Minny. It would be stretch to win the division. Opening round of the playoffs barring a big surprise has a payback series with the hated Blues on tap that will be a take no prisoners affair. You know that game 7 loss against those guys last year has not sat well with the Hawks…

Hawks will need to ride Crawford AND Darling. To trade Darling now would require a can’t lose offer from another team that makes the money work right. Not likely imo.

Every off-season brings a new set of Cap considerations and roster management challenges and this off-season will not be an exception. The Crawford/Darling decision will probably be the most impactful of the bunch with a number of variables that Stan may not have a handle on until after the season and even then it may prove too fluid to fashion the preferred result.

This is why, in my opinion, it’s best to enjoy the journey of the season and not get too worked up over the myriad possibilities of roster change in the off-season.

I think Wall-strodamus wrote: something to the point that Panik was lighting it up in pre-season practice… “don’t be surprised if he has a good year”… showed a great wrist shot and hands around the net… then again he was shooting at Crow’s net!

If Corey Crawford hit the market, there would be takers (stares in the direction of Philadelphia). So let’s not think the market isn’t going to exist for him IF the Hawks made him available. And he waived his NTC.

re: Wall – on Oct. 10 he said Panik might impress. On Oct. 16 he said “Yes, Panik- will regress to the mean… but he is way more skilled/scorer than Dez… Probably Lower IQ too… judging by some of those Pirri/Beach type passes.” Very Jaeckel-like in covering every possible base so no matter which way the wind blows you can claim to be right.

EXPOSING WALL. Check out some of these Wall predictions quite humorous!

wall
October 24, 2016 at 11:08 pm
All kidding aside- when do the Hawks become sellers- and try to “Showcase” the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago??? Seriously

wall
October 22, 2016 at 8:51 am
the Bad- Toews-looks frustrated… the leagues seems to have caught on to 72/88

wall
October 13, 2016 at 7:40 am

This team is NOT gonna score much… cuz rookies are average 4th liners…
I did like Kempny and Forsling will improve… But even by some miracle the Hawks make PO’s… they will be a boring “D” oriented type of team…

WALL
January 3, 2017 at 8:33 am
I think someone here posted earlier- that the “Real schedule” would come soon… and then we should talk TDL/sellers/buyers… of course Hawks are still a PO team…
But- not serious Cup contenders with 19/ not playing like $10.5M man.
and a bunch of Rookies.
SB- needs to make a ballsy move- and move a Contract $6M or more…
OR- get luck and sign/draft a couple of Saad/Shaw types….

There is ZERO chance that Crawford gets traded because he’ll only waive his no trade contract for Montreal and that is happening! Fortunately Craw will be part of the core for a long time into the future.

Mudturtle for the win in getting the other 2 possibilities. Ottawa has Craig Anderson under contract for 1 more year. But with his wife battling cancer who knows. Crawford has a modified NTC, one with unknown details.

“…said we’d never replace Shaw. Hello Hartman” — I don’t believe that Hartman replaces Shaw because they are different players. Shaw, from what we’ve seen so far, is probably tougher/more grit and does net front presence better than Hartman, but is also more reckless (likely to take bad/stupid penalties). (In my opinion,) Hartman has much more skill – skating, puck handling, passing, and shooting…and, he plays bigger than he is (similar to Shaw). I don’t miss Shaw. I hope Montreal works out well for him.

Only way I see trading 50 is if we add another core player/FW. That would prob include Hartman or one of the good young guys and high pick. Would get pick back (maybe better pick to) and good return. 33 would prob be around 2m (what are the other top back ups in recent yrs caphits 2-3m?). So a core FW at 25% retained Doucheknee or Langkog would be around 4m and Darls 2m, theres your 6m. Then are you better with that core FW and Darls or with the Crow and Hartman for the coming yrs. We know we have another wave of good young guys coming (starting now).

or

Keep the entire core and build from within with as many good young guys we have and are coming.

What ever way, were going to be looking pretty loaded in the near future.
Oh yeah.